IM Shanghai Building, K2 Real Estate, Kaixuan Road, Chinese Architecture Images

IM Shanghai Building News

27 + 26 Mar 2021

IM Shanghai

Architects: Aedas

Location: Kaixuan Road / Huaihai West Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China

Aedas-Designed IM Shanghai

IM Shanghai Changning District buildings

This cultural complex premised on the grand unveiling of a mountainous cityscape.

The development, located at the intersection of Kaixuan Road and Huaihai West Road of Changning District and conveniently accessible via MTR Line 10 at Hongqiao Road Station, is adjacent to the Shanghai City Sculpture Art Centre, and Redtown Art District. The site is not among any of the CBDs in Shanghai. Thus, a primary and key purpose of the development is to drive business value by attracting tenants and consumers as it integrates with the surrounding context.

IM Shanghai Building for K2 Real Estate

“Our goal is to shape IM Shanghai into a singular location where social gathering takes place within a natural setting, in an effort to promote interpersonal communication in the era of the online world.” Aedas Global Design Principal Christine Lam explains.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

An Ink Scroll Depicting a Rugged Landscape

Derived from concept of mountains, the development stands to present a stratified geology providing pinnacles, caves, rocks and waterfalls in the valleys, with geometric office towers expressing as mountain peaks and rock-shaped pavilions lining alongside the busy traffic flow in between to form a dynamic streetscape.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

A cultural tower, 3 office towers, 2 exhibition pavilions and 5 retail pavilions within the development are strategically scattered on the site to form a layered mountainous experience of the wild nature. Ascending office towers are sculpted with powerful tapering cuts, expressing as mountain peaks and leading the eyes to the apex. Inspired by traditional Chinese landscape painting, layering of a mountainous contour is depicted by using Void and Solid striation, which also assist in complying with the glazing to wall ratio requirement.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

Sculpted with powerful tapering cuts

Along Kaitian Road features a dynamic serrated façade symbolizing fissure through the mountain, together with busy traffic flowing in-between, a vibrant streetscape is created. Rock-inspired pavilions are featured with surface details of symbolic “cracks”, and cut-out terraces on top forming unique form for each block and allowing consumers to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the “mountainous” scenery they are in. Cave-like sunken plazas are smartly set to allow natural daylight into the basement as it enhances pedestrian circulation and connection between northern and southern part of the development.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

Spatial Layout of Mountain Range & Water Streams

The overall layout takes a bird’s-eye view and captures a panoramic snapshot of the bucolic surrounding. An ink painting in a city emerges from the collaging of mountain peaks, stone forests, caves, courtyards, canyons that emulate varied architectural shapes.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

Run across the site is Kaitian Road, a fissure below which runs the traffic current and bifurcates the rocks to occasion a face-to-face outlook between the multi-storey commercial buildings. The cultural tower, office towers, retail and exhibition pavilions are couched in a jagged manner which contributes to its dynamic and grandiose appearance, viewed from the West. The sunken plaza that connects the north and the south creates an illusion of a cave rift, completing the silhouette of an iconic mountainous terrain.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

Silhouette of an iconic mountainous terrain.

To mitigate negative shading impacts to the environment, and provide a solution for the problem of residence insolation, the stacking building blocks are sensibly arranged through rigorous analysis on site setback, mechanical loading and solar requirements.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

Future Diversified Office

The team is ahead of the curve in that we have started developing expandable working spaces, before the outcrop of co-working spaces in Asia. “As an atypical co-working office building, IM Shanghai offers more than low-cost shared spaces or desk rental services. The development, aspiring to become room for long-term connection and business growth, is designed and executed with the quality of a headquarter building.” Aedas Global Design Principal David Clayton said.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

Interior aligns with the exterior contours

From glazing panels of the grand entrance to details of geometric mosaic patters within, materials are delicately chosen to blend futuristic elements into to the oriental aesthetic of the development, resulting in the sparkling charm and elegance of a high-end business centre.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

The tower adopts an efficient core tube structure and employs polygonal shapes in the standard floor plan. By dividing the passenger elevator into high and low zones, the high zone serves to create a more expansive office area through the setback of the core. Architectural forms are anticipated by the inclined transferred columns to retain usable space. In addition, the independent space provides a small-scale headquarters-like environment for start-ups, which renders it more attractive compared to other large-scale spaces.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

In addition, exhibition spaces within the development would serve as a value-added feature for the tenants, largely eliminating time and costs spent for sourcing and transportation for their exhibition needs.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

Placemaking

“To create a successful design and fulfill the conditions of placemaking, one has to deliver on three aspects: improve district quality, generate robust, self-contained capabilities and establish community-shared values.”

IM Shanghai Building Changning District

Echo & integrate with traffic structure

Foster a sense of belonging through creating visual motifs

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

Guided by the tenets of urban regeneration and the requirements of increasingly connected digital cities, the design is rooted in the community. Through creating arresting visual motifs, a sense of belonging among members can be fostered, which in turn guarantees the sustainability of the community.

Site plan:
IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

IM Shanghai echoes and integrates with the traffic structure. The optimization of the city’s interface brings in new offices, complementary commercial and service facilities. With a coordinated and systematic approach, it streamlines development and ensures the flourishing of the district.

IM Shanghai building by Aedas

IM Shanghai – Building Information

Design & Project Architect: Aedas Ltd
Location: Shanghai, China
Client: K2 Real Estate (Shanghai Heshi Investment Development Co. Ltd)
GFA: 259,000 sq m
Completion Year: 2021
Designer: Christine Lam, Global Design Principal; David Clayton, Global Design Principal

IM Shanghai building by Aedas in China

Aedas Architects

IM Shanghai, China images / information received 250321

Location: Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Shanghai Architecture

Contemporary Architecture in Shanghai – architectural selection below:

Shanghai Architecture Designs – chronological list

Shanghai Architectural News

Shanghai Architectural Tours by e-architect

Shanghai Architect

Flowing in the Hair Salon, XianYang South Road
Design: AaaM Architects
Flowing in the Hair Salon in Shanghai
image courtesy of architects
Shanghai Hair Salon

Huayue Court Restaurant
Design: Golucci Interior Architects
Huayue Court Restaurant
image courtesy of architects
Huayue Court

Shanghai Building

Shaping Reality Through Time at Zaha Hadid Gallery

Fengpu Avenue Master Plan, Fengxian New City
Architects: Woods Bagot
Fengpu Avenue Master Plan, Fengxian New City
picture © Woods Bagot
Fengpu Avenue Master Plan

Jian Li Ju Theatre, B1 No. 301 East Hongsong Road, Minhang District
Architects: More Design Office (MDO)
Jian Li Ju Theatre in Shanghai
photograph : Dirk Weiblen
Jian Li Ju Theatre Building

Comments / photos for the IM Shanghai, China, design by Architects Aedas – page welcome